ROBINSON THE PLAYER
A frequent observation about Robinson is that he does things at the plate that can’t be taught. Specifically, he is as good as anyone in the game at hitting a pitcher’s pitch—and hitting it hard. This drives opponents crazy, but it puts a big smile on the face of Robinson's father. All those years of throwing to his son paid off. Robinson reads hurlers as well as any young player in the game.
Robinson’s hitting mechanics are superb. He has a compact lefthanded stroke that keeps the bat level right through the hitting zone. He squares up beautifully on the ball, turning high flies into doubles, triples and homers. Robinson has an unusually loose grip, which is why old-timers see a little Rod Carew in him. The ball just jumps off his bat. One important adjustment he made after reaching the majors was resisting the temptation to lunge at balls outside the strike zone.
Defensively, Robinson still has a little hot dog in him. He has polished his skills at second base and is far above average at most of the chores of that position. His lapses of concentration are mostly a thing of the past—and now he’s got the hardware to prove it.
Robinson was criticized in the past for what was perceived as a laid-back approach to the game. But as his numbers and profile have grown, the criticism has died down. In the 2010 postseason, Robinson showed he can carry his team on his back. He may not be a vocal leader, but he certainly has the respect of everyone in his locker room.